Hello, good morning and welcome to graduation for the class of 2012. I've been waiting to hear these words for 5 years - and by the looks on the faces of all my fellow graduates , I'm not alone. Think with me for a minute about the process we have gone through that has brought us together here today. Our stories of recent years are not very different. Whether you attended a community college, transferred here from another four-year school, or started your freshman year in the dorms near the entrance to this campus, we're finally finishing together. My brother asked me how I was able to finish college. I told him it's because I love learning and always finish. It doesn't matter if I unplug the computer and lose all my work, I stay awake until I finish. In my opinion, the joy of learning and the gift of finishing are not things we learn in college. These are skills that we carry with us and apply to our studies. And no matter where or how you learn them, you will never forget them. I can credit my mother for giving me the joy of learning. I spent my first five years of life growing up in a small town called Plain. Given Plain's name, I'm sure I won't have to waste time explaining the details of this little community. The only colorful part of Plain were the people who lived there. Since the elementary school was so far away, the community established a home school system and my mother was one of the teachers. Having my mother as a kindergarten teacher was like having a break all day. However, he always managed to engage me using his amazing imagination. When our family had to move to North Fork, Colorado to follow my father's work, my mother continued to teach me as well as my brother Andy. His creativity never stopped... middle of paper... it's a job, I have a degree and now I will work smarter. As speaker at our graduation I should represent the entire graduating class from the State University but I don't see the relevance. I am just one story in this diverse group of experiences. However, growing up we were all successes, we were successful in college and we will make a difference in the future and that is something I am proud to represent. Let me speak for all of us when I say thank you to this school for giving us our college experiences, to the teachers in our departments for opening our minds to the world, and to all those who have shaped our lives thus far by giving us the desire to learn and the ability to complete this monumental goal. In the future we will repay each of you with our positive influence on the world. Thank you…